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Casting of poly (vinyl alcohol)/glycidyl methacrylate reinforced with titanium dioxide nanoparticles for proton exchange fuel cells

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Abstract

Gamma irradiation was used for cross-linking poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) mixtures of different compositions. Specifically, 0.5 wt% titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles were added and blended well with the casting mixture prior to exposure to the irradiation dose. Next, 10 kGy was found to be the optimum dose for achieving the desired physical and chemical properties of the membrane. Characterizations of the cast membranes were carried out by Fourier transformer infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS). The properties of the membrane were also characterized by ion exchange capacity (IEC), water uptake, and tensile strength and were assessed in relation to application in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). A maximum proton conductivity of 7.3 × 10−2 S cm−1 was obtained for the membrane having 20 % GMA, 80 % PVA, and 0.5 % TiO2, and its activity and durability in a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) were compared to those of a commercial Nafion® 1350.

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Acknowledgments

The authors sincerely thank the STDF of Egypt (ID220) for financially supporting this project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Atomic Energy Authority, Egypt, National Centre for Radiation Research and Technology, 3 Ahmad El-Zomor Street, P.O. Box 29, Nasr City, Cairo, 11370, Egypt

    M. M. El-Toony & N. A. El-Kelesh

  2. Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Minia University, Main Road, Shalaby Land, Menia, Minya, 11432, Egypt

    E. E. Abdel-Hady

Authors
  1. M. M. El-Toony
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  2. E. E. Abdel-Hady
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  3. N. A. El-Kelesh
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Correspondence to M. M. El-Toony.

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El-Toony, M.M., Abdel-Hady, E.E. & El-Kelesh, N.A. Casting of poly (vinyl alcohol)/glycidyl methacrylate reinforced with titanium dioxide nanoparticles for proton exchange fuel cells. J Solid State Electrochem 20, 1913–1920 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-016-3186-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-016-3186-7

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